Evelyn & Joel - Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts

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Love in
Bloom
Mother Nature is the
inspiration behind a romantic and
refined garden soiree
photographs by steve Krongard and Jodi buren
E velyn vera had one
look in mind for her June 2008 wedding to Joel McKoan: romantic. luckily, the couple’s
search for a venue that would reflect this vision didn’t take them far from home.
Caramoor Center for Music and the arts in Katonah, ny, where evelyn and Joel live,
offered them acres of lush greenery with Italian renaissance–inspired gardens
and scenic walking trails, the ideal backdrop for an enchanting springtime fete.
nyC-based planner Carrie Sartor, of lyndsey hamilton events, and floral designer
Matthew robbins, of artfool in nyC, worked with the pair to incorporate the natu-
ral beauty of the site—accented with romantic touches, like dramatically draped
fabric, soft candlelight and the soothing sound of a harp—into their celebration.
the flowers
“I didn’t want my arrangements to clash with what was already at Caramoor,”
says the bride, who chose flowers in muted pinks, peaches and greens. robbins
created bouquets of peonies, orchids, hydrangeas and roses for evelyn and her
bridesmaids, and for the tented reception, centerpieces with these same varieties
plus sweet pea and ranunculus. a single orchid on each napkin and flowering gar-
lands with ribbon wrapped around the poles of the tent finished robbins’ design.
StEvE KroNgard aNd Jodi BurEN/KroNgardBurEN.Com
Evelyn & Joel
two lovebirds
Evelyn and Joel pose beneath
an ivy-covered gateway at
Caramoor, in Katonah, NY.
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natural appeal
Above: An untamed floral
arrangement looks sophisticated
in an elegant urn.
light and lovely
Right: Antiqued votives, lanterns
and fabric draping from
the tent’s ceiling and perimeter
contribute to the romantic vibe.
flower tower
Opposite, top left: The couple’s
chocolate and vanilla confection
with fruit filling, by NYC-based
cake baker Sylvia Weinstock,
is covered with sugar flowers.
ribbon effect
Opposite, middle: Guests’
escort cards are secure beneath
bands of ivory ribbon; pink
orchids embellish the display.
bridal blooms
Opposite, bottom: Blush
peonies are prominent in the
bridesmaids’ bouquets, which
echo Evelyn’s in design.
old-world charm
Opposite, top right: The
columns and arches at the
Italian Pavilion, a pretty
spot for a photo op, give
Caramoor a European feel.
f o r m o r e r e a l w e d d i n g s, g o t o b r i d e s.c o m /r e a l w e d d i n g s This page: tErrY miChaEl/tErrYmiChaEl.Com. OppOsiTe, clOckwise frOm TOp lefT: StEvE KroNgard aNd Jodi BurEN/KroNgardBurEN.Com (2). tErrY miChaEl/tErrYmiChaEl.Com (2).
the fashion
For the ceremony, evelyn chose a silk gown with a lace overlay
and beading by Priscilla of Boston. She also wore a crystal tiara,
diamond earrings and two diamond bracelets, one of which was
a wedding gift from Joel. To make dancing easier, evelyn changed
during supper into a two-piece vintage dress she had found in a
Miami boutique. Joel and his groomsmen sported black tuxedos
by ralph lauren with vests and ties to match the bridesmaids’
taupe gowns, each a unique style, by alvina valenta.
the i dos
The couple’s 180 guests were greeted at Caramoor’s Sunken
Garden with refreshing glasses of punch and a harpist’s soft mel-
odies. after walking down a grassy aisle, evelyn met Joel, and the
two exchanged vows on an elevated portion of the tiered garden,
with the others watching from below. Joel’s sister and evelyn’s
best friend each gave a reading on love—one shared a Greek
poem and the other, a Bible excerpt—to personalize the moment.
the celebration
From the service, evelyn and Joel’s guests followed a pathway to
the cocktail hour at Tapestry hedge, an open lawn with fragrant
herbs and flowers. The harpist, joined by a string trio, played
as guests mingled and the newlyweds—thought to be enjoying
a quiet moment together—secretly practiced their first dance.
“We surprised everyone by starting with a slow, romantic song
and then doing a choreographed salsa routine,” says evelyn.
dinner, catered by nyC-based Great Performances, also pre-
sented an unexpected change of pace: Following a plated fig salad,
guests were encouraged to visit stations for the main course.
among the options were paella and sweet plantains, a nod to the
bride’s native honduras. The crowd dined and danced beneath
a romantic tent adorned with sheer curtains, pink linens, silver
chargers and lavish floral arrangements. as a breather between
songs, guests explored the grounds of Caramoor, where, no
doubt, love was in the air. —Michaela Garibaldi
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